Theory Mastery

RVV 1990 art. 83: school crossing patrol

Official text on wetten.overheid.nl

A school crossing patrol gives a stop signal with the stop paddle; road users must stop so pedestrians can cross.

Source: RVV 1990 art. 83 · checked 2026-10-23

This article is listed in the law overview

How the exam asks it

In a tailback on a provincial road near Zwolle a motorist gets out of his car. In ordinary clothes he stands beside the road and waves his arms to direct the traffic. What do you do with his signals?

  1. You only follow them once he puts on a yellow vest
  2. You follow them, because he is clearly directing traffic
  3. You keep an eye on him, but you need not follow them
Show the answer

Correct answer: You keep an eye on him, but you need not follow them

False — you confuse confident behaviour with authority. Only persons who are authorised AND recognisable as such, like police, marechaussee, customs and authorised traffic controllers, give instructions you must follow.

Why learners get this wrong: A bystander who puts on a yellow vest and directs traffic must be followed; the vest makes him a traffic controller.

Open this question

You are approaching a junction in Deventer. Your traffic light turns green, but a uniformed police officer standing on the junction clearly signals with a gesture that you must stop. What do you do?

  1. You drive on, because only a stop sign or red lamp from the officer counts
  2. You drive on, because the green light overrides the officer's gesture
  3. You stop, because the officer's gesture overrides the green light
Show the answer

Correct answer: You stop, because the officer's gesture overrides the green light

False — you think a gesture only counts with a stop sign or red lamp added. An authorised, recognisable officer may also instruct you with a hand or arm gesture or by voice, and you follow that instruction.

Why learners get this wrong: A hand gesture from an officer is only a request; only a stop sign or a red lamp from the police must be followed.

Open this question

At a primary school in Zwolle a traffic warden holds up his stop sign while a group of children crosses, and you stop. Your passenger says: 'A warden like that may also stop cars elsewhere in town, just like the police.' Is that true?

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

False — you turn the warden into a general traffic officer. A traffic warden may make drivers stop to help children cross; that power belongs to that task and does not apply everywhere, as it does for the police.

Why learners get this wrong: A traffic warden (verkeersbrigadier) may make you stop anywhere on the road, not just at a crossing point for children.

Open this question

Where this is explained

Signs that go with this article

Other articles

Open in the app